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WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday assured congressional lawmakers that agents would play no role in enforcing the controversial requirement that Americans buy insurance under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

"IRS revenue agents will not be involved. There will not be audits," IRS Deputy Commissioner Steven Miller told a subcommittee of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The law, passed in 2010 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, will charge individuals a fee, or tax, if they fail to buy insurance starting in 2014.

Opponents of the health care measure have focused on that requirement, with some Republicans saying they worry the IRS, the agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement, will harass people who fail to buy insurance.

"In most cases, taxpayers will file their tax returns reporting their health insurance coverage, and-or making a payment, and there will be no need for further interactions with the IRS," Miller said.

Under the law, Americans who lack health insurance will have to pay an annual fee to the IRS of $95, or 1 percent of taxable household income, starting in 2014.

By 2016, that will rise to $695 per person, with a cap that equals the greater of $2,085 per family or 2.5 percent of household income.

About 1% of the population will be charged for not buying insurance, government watchdogs have estimated.

Republicans questioned Miller about how many new agents would be needed to apply the law, and whether the agency would be able to keep up its core mission of tax collection.

At the hearing, the latest in a series on the healthcare law, staff for Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.), who heads the subcommittee, handed out a paper blasting the law as an "explosion of regulatory burdens."

The law contains a number of new tax provisions, from the so-called individual mandate to tax credits for small businesses and levies on the wealthy to help pay for coverage.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney this week said that although he wants to repeal the law, he would keep popular provisions such as some related to protecting people with pre-existing medical conditions.

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Ordinarily, when you sell something for more than what you paid to get it, you have a capital gain; when you sell it for less than what you paid, you have a capital loss. Both can affect your taxes. But if you immediately buy a similar property to replace the one you sold, the tax code calls that a "like-kind exchange," and it lets you delay some or all of the tax effects. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses Form 8824 for like-kind exchanges.

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts allow the families of disabled young people to set aside money for their care in a way that earns special tax benefits. ABLE accounts work much like the so-called 529 accounts that families can use to save money for education; in fact, an ABLE account is really a special kind of 529.

One of the many benefits of working at home is that you can deduct legitimate expenses from your taxes. The downside is that since home office tax deductions are so easily abused, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tends to scrutinize them more closely than other parts of your tax return. However, if you are able to substantiate your home office deductions, you shouldn't be afraid to claim them. IRS Form 8829 helps you determine what you can and cannot claim.

Form 8859 is a tax form that will never be used by the majority of taxpayers. However, if you live in the District of Columbia (D.C.), it could be the key to saving thousands of dollars on your taxes. While many first-time home purchasers in D.C. are entitled to a federal tax credit, Form 8859 calculates the amount of carry-forward credit you can use in future years, not the amount of your initial tax credit.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the power to seize income tax refunds when a taxpayer owes certain debts, such as unpaid taxes or overdue child support. Sometimes, a married couple's joint tax refund will be seized because of a debt for which only one spouse is responsible. When that happens, the other spouse is said to be "injured" and can file Form 8379 to get at least some of the refund.

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dlsbasscop

I have heard plenty of people witness that Romeny has helped lots of people privatly with his own money without need to boost. I have not seen the same charitable action from Obama in his Chicago (paid street organizer) days nor College days (mostly secret or drug reltated). Democrats would have you believe Romney is an Evil Governor but I say he is a good man from a good family. Romney would not let his brother struggle in Kenya on $20 like Obama has his brother. Nor would Romney let two relatives live in America illegally like Obama. Romney has shown by past action he would have HELPED those people in some way. Obama just keeps them Secret like so many things he hides from Ameicans (fast and furious invetigations come to mind). Obama is now in hot water for HIS Govenor pick Siebilius from KS, home of Tiller the Baby Killer, for Campaigning on Government Time. She Broke the Law and now Obama is trying to cover that up also by changing the records. You have failed America Obama, and after the Country gave you every chance. You had the White House, Both Houses of Congress and the peoples support . The trickery in Obamacare with taxes in unbelievable and I guess that is why it is 2200 pages, to hide things.

The IRS is the biggest collection agency in the world, and the Obama regime has just added 16,000 more agents to monitor Obamacare, to make sure everyone (except Obama's backers) pay their "fair share".You can be sure that if you don't follow along like the other "sheeple", you will be paid a visit.

WHAT IS THE PER CENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT SIMPLY IGNORES THE IRS AND TAXES ALL TOGETHER, ALONG WITH MOST GOVT REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYTHING? IT WAS QUOTED AS HIGH AS 20%...IS IT ANY SMALLER NOW? HOW MUCH DOES THAT EFFECT ALL THIS PLANNING? THAT GROUP WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHENEVER THEY NEED TO...

Do not be fooled. The republicans want to get rid of all federal programs. Healthcare, social security, medicare and medicade. If you vote for the GOP in this coming election you will pay for it in your retirement years. We must save this great country for our children and grandchildreen.

Yeah Romneys and Ryans appeal would be to get rid of medical for everyone but still have vouchers to fight among ourselfs while there own pals get it for free! Talk about giving back to the people all they want to do is take and take!

When Romney says he likes parts of Health care Reform; It shouldn't surprise anyone. What's funny is Mitt saying he would "Over turn Health care day 1 of his presidency". That's Mitt's way of "Self Deporting" His own healthcare plan. I hear people parrot talking points calling The Affordable Care Act, "Socialized Medicine" . When It's a big wet kiss to private free market Insurance companies. If anyone is worried about the IRS auditing them? Romney seems to have things to hide..

This does not sound like an IRS Job; it sounds more like a Job for a new group in Black leather duck stepping, that supports an evolving leader with the power of indefinite detention, who usurps the checks and balances, and welds executive decision, and the power of mandate, one with the power to force abortion on the church; But then again we were promised CHANGE.